The UN Security Council unanimously voted through a resolution on Friday to
ease sanctions against Libya's assets and arms, and set up a UN mission to
help the beleaguered interim government.

The resolution unfreezes assets of two Libyan oil companies, lifts a ban on flights by Libyan aircraft and modifies an arms embargo to allow the National Transitional Council to buy arms "intended solely for security or disarmament assistance."

Under the resolution, the no-fly zone imposed in March after Colonel Muammer Gaddafi launched his crackdown on regime opponents will remain in place but be kept under review.

"Today is undoubtedly a decisive, historic day in the life of the Libyan people," said Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libya's former deputy ambassador. "It is an indication that dictatorship has fallen, a period of terror, of denial of freedom, and of violation of human rights has now come to an end for the Libyan people."

"The fact that the National Transitional Council today takes Libya's seat at these United Nations indicates that a new page has been opened in history of the Libyan people - a page that has been marked by the blood of Libya's sons," he said.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement late on Friday that he "strongly welcomed" the decision to allow the National Transitional Council (NTC) to take Libya's seat at the UN.

Mr Hague said: "Both these votes make clear the international community's determination to support the new Libyan authorities, and the Libyan people, as they make progress in re-establishing stability and embrace a free future - progress which the Prime Minister (David Cameron) and I saw for ourselves earlier this week on the streets of Tripoli and Benghazi."

"This historic resolution mandates a UN mission to support them in those efforts, including preparing for elections and protecting human rights," Hague added.

He stressed that the unfreezing of assets, leading to the progressive release of around £12bn from the UK, will help Libya in building a more prosperous and stable future.

"As the NTC has called for, the resolution maintains the no-fly zone and action to protect civilians, which will remain in place as long as they are considered necessary.

"Today's votes show the international community's recognition of and confidence in the new Libyan authorities. We will continue to work with them closely as they build a better future for Libya."

Britain and France have been at the forefront of the NATO aerial campaign to enforce a UN resolution demanding an end to attacks on civilians.